By Ron Karp, Executive Director

I spend most of my days in my office working at the computer, surrounded by piles of papers screaming for my immediate attention. When my mind gets fuzzy or my eyes start to burn I get up and take a stroll through the food bank. I find that I can’t walk though this building without being emotionally impacted by the work going on.

Next door to my office is Rachel Gardner, our Client Services Manager. She is the first to meet with new clients (80 so far this year) when they come in to apply for service. Many of these individuals are newly diagnosed with HIV and feel mortified to have to ask for help. Often, they are uncomfortable and do not want to be seen here. Like all of our staff, Rachel is warm and compassionate with clients, and she works hard to make them feel comfortable. I love to see these same people an hour later, leaving with bags of groceries, head held high and a smile on their face.

Just over a year ago a man came into the food bank who was newly diagnosed with HIV. He was so unnerved that he didn’t want to sit at the counter to order groceries, or have us call him at home or send him anything in the mail. He thought that because he had AIDS his life was over. After his first encounter with our wonderful volunteers his demeanor changed completely. He soon became a volunteer himself. Now he is in school and hoping to eventually become a doctor!

Food For Thought is like a very busy grocery store, except that instead of customers we have volunteers wheeling grocery carts around, shopping for our clients. Volunteers take grocery orders, both on the phone for homebound clients, and at the front counter for those who come in. Many of our clients have a real connection with our volunteers, whether it is the person they talk to each week on the phone, the delivery driver who brings their food, or the volunteer greeting them at the counter. Walking through the food bank one day I overheard Bill saying to a client on the phone, “Let me see what goodies we have for you today from our bakery.” Like other volunteers, Bill knows that these weekly conversations may be the only contact that a client has with the outside world and he goes the extra mile to be engaging and hospitable.

Around the corner from my office is the back entrance where our delivery orders are stored. I am continually impressed by the scores of volunteers who come here each week and drive all over the county to deliver groceries to our clients. They often arrive late in the day, in a rush, sometimes after a day of work. Still, they take the extra time to make sure each order is complete so that when they arrive at the clients’ home, nothing is missing from their order.

Sometimes I glance out my office window and see a client harvesting greens or tomatoes from our garden. During the holidays I see clients carrying out turkeys that they couldn’t otherwise afford. Or families receiving wrapped presents for their kids – in some cases the only presents that will be under the Christmas tree. It is these individual stories that make up the whole of Food For Thought.

I know these are challenging times for almost all of us. And, it is more important than ever that we all do our best to support our friends and neighbors in need. Here at Food For Thought our work is very straightforward and basic. Members of our community who are living with HIV/AIDS walk through our doors empty-handed and leave with bags full of nutritious groceries to feed themselves and their families. Without our services, our clients would go hungry.

The importance of this work, and the simplicity of our mission, is the reason that we are able to approach each task, each challenge, with a clear vision and strong commitment.

On behalf of our clients I thank all of you – volunteers, donors, Board and staff – for your generosity and support during the holiday season and throughout the year.